Other rumors include considering him the reason for all small local crimes and that all the pecans that grew from his trees were poisonous. These tall tales and legends explain the irrational fear that children have of Boo, that they honestly believe such wild tales. Furthermore, the kids are scared Boo because they believe him to be violent and savage. Even ignoring the legends, the past of Boo makes him out to be a homicidal maniac. When Boo was young, he was part of a gang, terrorizing the town and hanging around the wrong crowd. When he was locked up in the house, it was said that one time he stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors, and that “Mrs. Radley ran screaming into the street that Arthur was killing them all” (Lee 13). The gang activity and stabbing of his father shows that Boo has violent and dangerous tendencies, and give the children a reason to fear him. This also connects to why they are afraid of being near to the Radley place, as they think that Boo will come out and attack them if they come too close. Given these points, one can conclude and predict that the children will not meet Boo because he is locked up and because they are afraid of